Chess Kenya was the pride of African chess last month.
Kenya were the proud host of the 10th edition of the African Youth Chess Championship. The event took place in Kisumu from 12th to 18th August 2018 at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel.
A total of 14 countries participated. These include Algeria, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, , South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Cameroon, Somalia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and host Kenya.
With a total of over 170 players this was by far one of the most successful editions of this event.
Photo caption. Kezzie Musukwe from Malawi the Zone 4.3 President presents the winner of the Boys U18 IM Kandil Adham (Egypt).
Kenya obtain 4 bronze medals in this event. These came from WCM Janvi Nipul Shah in the Girls U8 and Naiya Gosrani in the Girls U14. Pranjal Ameetkumar Parikh in the Girls U18 and Dev Bijesh Shah in the Boys U18 were the other two.
The main sponsor of the event was the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage. The total sponsorship of this event was approximately USD 130,000.
It is noteworthy to mention that this sponsorship is one of the biggest in East and Central Africa.
The event incorporated live video coverage alongside the real-time transmission of moves via the DGT e-Boards which was a historic first.
This was due to the generous sponsorship deal from Terrian Chess Academy (Terrian Chess Academy) and Mini Chess Kenya who provided 5 and 4 DGT Boards respectively.
The event was graced by Prof. Peter Nyong’o who is the current Governor of Kisumu County. His daughter is the renown actress Lupita Nyong’o who starred in the famous chess movie ‘Queen of Katwe‘.
Photo caption above – Pranjal Ameetkumar Parikh receives her trophy from African Chess Confederation President Lewis Ncube.
The other highlight of the event was the surprise visit to the event by Arkady Dvorkovich. Mr Dvorkovich is the the former Deputy Vice Prime Minister of Russia is currently vying for the FIDE Presidency. We have a short clip of his historic visit.
Arkady Dvorkovich trip to Kisumu.
Chess Kenya has organised a number of other continental chess events in the past. These include the following;
1992 African Junior Chess Championship.
1993 African Junior Chess Championship which ran from 11th to 26th December 1993. The event had players from 13 federations. The winner was IM Aderito Pedro of Angola.
1993 FIDE International Opening held from 11th to 26th December 1993. The winner was IM Alexander Nascimento of Angola.
1998 African Junior Chess Championship. The winner was IM Robert Gwaze of Zimbabwe.
7th All African University Games which ran from 11th to 18th July 2014 at the University of Nairobi. The event had players from Uganda, Egypt, Mozambique and Kenya.
This is the list of winners in each category in the 2018 AYCC:
U-18 Girls
1. WFM Nassr Rania – ALGERIA
2. Wolmarans Riekie – SOUTH AFRICA
3. Pranjal Ameetkumar Parikh – KENYA
U-18 Boy
1. IM Kandil Adham – EGYPT
2. CM Araoun Saadi – ALGERIA
3. Shah Dev – KENYA
U-16 Girls
- IM Lina Nassr – ALGERIA
2. Abdel Moniem Asmaa – EGYPT
3. WCM Nina Marais – SOUTH AFRICA
U-16 Boys
1. FM Brahami Lamine – ALGERIA
2. Amin Khaled Mohamed – EGYPT
3. CM Mhango Banele – SOUTH AFRICA
U-14 Girls
1. WCM Mudodo Refiloe Hazel – ZIMBABWE
2. WCM Amin Lila Mohamed – EGYPT
3. Gosrani Naiya – KENYA
U-14 Boys
1. FM Cheikh-Boukal Zivad – ALGERIA
2. Kanyike Victor – UGANDA
3. Oosthuizen Michal Jacobus – SOUTH AFRICA
U- 12 Girls
1. WCM Datharam Aarti – SOUTH AFRICA
2. Djerroud Charazed – ALGERIA
3. Murinda Anashe – ZIMBABWE
U-12 Boys
1. CM Tamer Ahmed – EGYPT
2. CM Benyahia Safin – ALGERIA
3. Nevin Tyler – SOUTH AFRICA
U-10 Girls
1. WCM Nassr Ryma – ALGERIA
2. Datharam Archana – SOUTH AFRICA
3. Mesmoudi Nada Errayhane – ALGERIA
U-10 Boys
1. CM Kandil Ahmed – EGYPT
2. CM Govender Kaedan – SOUTH AFRICA
3. CM Rahem Sammy – ALGERIA
U-8 Girls
1. WCM Hinda Ottilie – NAMIBIA
2. Hadjout Ilina – ALGERIA
3. WCM Shah Janvi Nipul – KENYA
U-8 Boys
1. Levitan Caleb Levi – SOUTH AFRICA
2. Levitan Judah Nathan – SOUTH AFRICA
3. Wahba David George – EGYPT
